Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Riding Mower, briggs and stratton, compression stroke

Question
I have a Briggs and Stratton Mod.#42E707 Type #2631-E1.  After starting once or twice,it acts like battery is dead. but still have 12.22 volts across battery terminals and wire at starter is red hot. Was wondering what could cause this. Thank You Joe

Answer
Joe

more than likely the valves are in need of adjustment. Having  the valves out of adjustment will cause the compression stroke bind with the valve by opening at the wrong time not letting the stroke to release air trapped in there.

L-Head Opposed Twin Cylinder
  
Intake Valve Clearance ( in. ) .004 / .006

Exhaust Valve Clearance ( in. ) .007 / .009

Have you dis-connected and cleaned the battery terminal posts and battery cable ends with a wirebrush?  I have fixed a lot of mowers just by cleaning the battery connection.How big, in diameter is the battery cables?  Typically manufactures use as small as wire as possible as it is cheaper.  I have seen a few products where we had to run larger cables.  Eventurally the manufacture admitted the cables were too small to handle the current and issued a service bullitin.

Do you have a multimeter to measure voltage drop across the cables?

Clean the battery connections and let me know if that helps.